☰
HomeLiving Beyond BordersGZERO WorldSignalIn 60 SecondsPuppet RegimeGZERO World PodcastContact UsAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyTerms

Hard Numbers: Truck backup at Polish border, Maldives says bye to India’s troops, Australia clinches Cricket World Cup, Swift postpones Rio show amid deadly heat

November 19, 2023
Tasha Kheiriddin
Polish truckers block several border crossings with Ukraine in protest at what they say is Ukrainian haulers' free rein in Poland that is hurting their business.
Polish truckers block several border crossings with Ukraine in protest at what they say is Ukrainian haulers' free rein in Poland that is hurting their business.
Attila Husejnow/SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters

3,000: For the past 11 days, Polish truckers have blocked roads leading to three border crossings with Ukraine, protesting what they call “government inaction” over a loss of business to foreign competitors since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Traffic is now backed up 30 kilometers on one of the routes, with an estimated 3,000 trucks waiting to cross.

75: The recently elected president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, formally asked India to withdraw its 75-person military contingent from the country. Muizzu won the presidential election in September on an “India Out platform” and is seen as more closely aligned with China.

6: On Sunday, Australia won a record-extending sixth Cricket World Cup against India with a six-wicket victory at Narendra Modi Stadium. Despite starting the tournament sidelined by a broken left hand, Australian player Travis Head scored 137 runs and was named man of the match, becoming only the seventh player to score a century in a men's World Cup final.

140: On Saturday, megastar Taylor Swift postponed her second concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after a 23-year-old woman died at her Friday show, apparently due to the sweltering combination of temperature and humidity, which felt like 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest index Rio has ever recorded. In a handwritten note shared on her social media, Swift said she had a “shattered heart.” “There's very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young,” she wrote.

More from GZERO Media

Power systems under pressure

Enbridge

Across North America and Europe, blackouts are becoming more common, often hitting when the demand peaks or when the weather turns extreme. The surging demand for power and new energy sources are putting pressure on the energy systems. Meeting today’s energy needs takes a flexible, pragmatic, “all-of-the-above” approach — drawing on all fuels and technologies. Learn how Enbridge is delivering reliable, affordable energy in uncertain times.

Iran was hit – did the nuclear non-proliferation regime take the blow?

Amir Seaid Iravani premanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran speaks during the UN Security Council on June 24, 2025 in New York City.
John Lamparski via Reuters Connect

It’s not clear yet how much the US attack on Iran's nuclear sites this weekend set back the Islamic Republic's ability to develop atomic weapons, but experts say the airstrikes almost certainly threw a bomb into something larger: the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Graphic Truth: Do Americans want a third party?

A pie graph showing the percentage of Americans in favor of having a third major political party.
Ico Oliveira

Remember when Elon Musk threatened to start his own political party during his spat with Donald Trump? It’s unclear how many Americans would switch their political affiliation to a Musk-run party specifically, but a plurality agree that they’d like another major political party to rival the Democrats and Republicans.

Walmart is supporting America’s small businesses through 2025 Open Call

Walmart

Open Call is the heart of Walmart’s $350 billion commitment to US manufacturing, supporting products made, grown or assembled in America. The pitch event represents a unique opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to meet face-to-face with Walmart merchants and earn a chance to get their products on store shelves nationwide. Last year, finalists from across the country represented 48 states, with entrepreneurs from over half these states receiving deals. It’s all a part of Walmart’s investment in American jobs and communities. Learn more about Walmart’s annual Open Call.

Microsoft's 2025 Responsible AI Transparency Report

Microsoft

Last week, Microsoft released its 2025 Responsible AI Transparency Report, demonstrating the company’s sustained commitment to earning trust at a pace that matches AI innovation. The report outlines new developments in how we build and deploy AI systems responsibly, how we support our customers, and how we learn, evolve, and grow. It highlights our strengthened incident response processes, enhanced risk assessments and mitigations, and proactive regulatory alignment. It also covers new tools and practices we offer our customers to support their AI risk governance efforts, as well as how we work with stakeholders around the world to work towards governance approaches that build trust. You can read the report here.

About UsCareers PressContact Us Privacy PolicyTerms of Use
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.